Sources of Funding

Organisations Offering Advice

The UK's support organisation for grant making trusts and foundations of all types. Contains useful information on the website but cannot give advice about individual applications, nor help grant-seekers find suitable funders.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
Tel: 0141 243 3570
Department of University, Innovations and Skills.
Department of Children, Schools and Families.www.direct.gov.uk

The DfES produces publications which gives details of grants available from LEAs to students who are taking first degrees and comparable courses; diploma of higher education courses, teacher training and HND courses. Leaflets are free upon request.

Set up to help students and parents by putting them in touch with likely sources of financial aid, also offering information about welfare grants. The Service advises students and parents faced with difficulties in their negotiations with LEAs and provide liaison with educational charities. There is also a useful online database which will search for charities appropriate for your course.

The National Union of Students (NUS)
Tel: 0871221 8221
Snd Floor, Centro House
Mandela Street
London NW1 0DUwww.nus.online.co.uk

Produces the NUS Welfare Information Pack, which includes information on grants, awards and alternative financial assistance.

The University of London Careers Service
Stewart House
32 Russell Square
London WC1B 5DNwww.careers.lon.ac.uk

Maintains a reference library containing information from various educational trusts and foundations who may offer assistance to students, endowed scholarships and details and guidance on all grants available from LEAs.

Charitable Trusts and Foundations

Below is a list of some charitable trusts and Foundations that have awarded grants to students in the past. However it is not a definitive list and you should also refer to the books and directories of Trusts and Foundations listed below.

The Trust was established to help women in the UK and Eire further their career prospects or to retrain after bringing up a family. Present loan maximum is £500. Applications received are reviewed after 31 March each year.

The Ann Driver Trust
PO Box 2761
London W1A 5HD

To advance the education of youth in the arts and sciences. Requests for an application form should be made by the April preceding the academic year beginning in September.

Apply to the Secretary, in writing (including SAE). The trustees apply their funds towards supporting parents with the educational costs of their children and respond more readily to appeals relating to children with special talents, particularly in the artistic fields. They also respond more readily to appeals which show that there is an element of self-help already in operation and where a lack of finance could preclude children from receiving the type of education their particular 'gift' merits.

The Sidney Perry Foundation PO Box 2924 Faringdon SN7 7YJ

Assistance to those of great promise, under 35 at the start of their course, who would be unable to proceed with their studies through lack of means. Average grant in the region of £500. Application form available from Mrs L A Owens enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Assistance for individuals undertaking courses in the performing arts.
Grants to help with the cost of equipment/instruments, fees or maintenance/living expenses. No grants are made to Postgraduates.Forms should be submited by March for consideration in May. Contact: Mrs Jane Day.

The Thomas Wall Trust welcomes applications from UK nationals only, particularly those who, through adverse or unexpected circumstances, have financial difficulties but who wish to pursue vocational courses or courses concerned with social welfare which will subsequently lead to paid employment. Grants normally supplement assistance received from other sources, and have a current maximum value of £1000 p.a. The Trustees require the submission of an online application form completed in full. The Trust opens at the beginning of the year to consider courses beginning in September of that year. The contact name is: Sue Ellis, Charities Officer.

Helpful Books

Some of the books listed should be available in large public libraries, many of them can be purchased from the Directory of Social Change (DSC) including the Educational Grants Directory, A Guide to the Major Trusts, Grants for Individuals in Need and The Arts Funding Guide.

The Educational Grants Directory
By Michael Eastwood and David Casson.
Available from Directory of Social Change Ltd, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP. 020 7391 4800 www.dsc.org.uk

The Grants Register
This publication lists over 4,000 awards for students studying both in the UK and abroad.
Published yearly by Palgrave Macmillan Reference Ltd.
Available from: www.palgrave.com or Palgrave Macmillan , Houndsmill, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS

The Directory of Grant Making Trusts
Published by the Charities Aid Foundation.
Available at most public libraries and from Directory of Grant Making Trusts, Kingshill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA

University Scholarships and Awards
By Brian Heap, published by Trotman and Company.
Listing scholarships available to students from universities and other organisations.
Available from: www.trotman.co.uk or Trotman & Co., Ltd., The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1PL.